Casualties leave Aloisi little choice

ROAR coach John Aloisi says he is building for the future as well as focusing on the current A-League season as he defends Brisbane’s pedestrian start to their 2017-18 campaign.

Jeers echoed around Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday at the end of a dire 0-0 draw between the Roar and cellar dwellers Wellington Phoenix.

While the draw was a good result for the Phoenix, for the Roar it was a huge setback.

The Roar have won just two of their 10 matches this season and have largely failed to inspire with football that’s a far cry from the style that revolutionised the A-League and led to the club winning three championships between 2011 and 2014.

Aloisi (pictured) has rightfully pointed to a lengthy injury list as a reason for the Roar’s failure to fire.

Unavailable on the weekend were attacking pair Brett Holman and Fahid Ben Khalfallah, key midfielder Thomas Kristensen, goalkeeper Michael Theo, and defenders Luke DeVere, Jade North and Avraam Papadopoulos, who is serving a seven-match suspension for spitting.

And things got worse when Brisbane’s best player, Frenchman Eric Bautheac, was forced off in the first half with a hamstring injury.

With the spate of injuries, Aloisi has been forced to turn to the club’s younger brigade, with the likes of Nick D’Agostino, Joe Caletti, Connor O’Toole and Peter Skapetis getting plenty of game time.

“The young boys have really shown they are stepping up and helping,” Aloisi said.

“There’s a bright future for them at Brisbane Roar that’s really positive.

“I know a lot people don’t care about that at the moment, they just care about the results, which I understand, but I care about building this club and making sure it is in a good position not only today but tomorrow.”

However, Aloisi admitted the Roar were “desperate” ahead of their clash against Melbourne Victory at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday night.

Like the Roar, the Victory have battled and are on the same points, 10, as Brisbane.